What will it take to create a July or Met in Jhb??

Really and truly lets be honest the cash is in Jhb..the horses are in Jhb..what is it gonna take for Phum to create the vibe around a racemeeting as GC does with the July and the Met?

I accept that like the rugby teams attendance is poor at Ellis Park when compared to Durban and Cape Town but surely to goodness are they not even gonna try and create a raceday that stands up as "the meeting to be seen at"?

Is it the venue, the marketing, the tradition, the will..what is it?

oscar with all your money in the world you WILL NEVER HAVE THE TRADITION AND THE VIBE that the july and met create..secondly you say you got the horses but i believe the cape hve better horses than you guys and the natal season brings them all together to create a great 3 months of racing...

Start to charge entrance fees starting at R50 to get in and then Comp 10000 free tickets at totes and upmarket venues with a younger crowd (25-35) - if people think they are getting into a prime event for free(while others must pay) they will come and have an after racing attraction for the younger crowd(rave or popular bands with entrance restricted to people that have bought tickets)

Probably a combination of all Oscar.

I personally think it'll take some cash - but more importantly
'balls', 'foresight' and 'imagination' of someone to DRIVE it!

The question being a) will P put up the cash - and b) will the RA (now in charge @Tuffotein) pull out all the stops to acheive it?

It most certainly IS doable - and if started now have a whole year to make it happen!

So P RA, how about it?

Dont hold your breath, Jamster !

Its inconceivable that Gauteng does not have at least one raceday where people are turned away at the gates because the course is full...where are the tents etc

All I can say is that someone needs to start pushing this cause its a disgrace that Sat meeting (albeit bad weather) is Gautengs Raceday showcase!

your best attended meeting is randjies funday by far

I agree Oscar - there is absolutely no reason why, with a little will such a day can't be a huge event!

A question for you guys, how well supported was the recent 'charity day' the other saturday? I would hope, very well.

A day such as Saturday, could well be linked and promoted as a celebration for all and a way to raise money for a worthy cause - which in of itself could lead to tremendous 'free' advertising via all the media outlets not only in the immediate area, or region but SA as a whole!

Throw in some sponsorship, a fair / fete - corporate tents etc and you're alraedy halfway there - no?

So again I respectfully ask: P RA, how about it?

Jim.

Youre right just goes to show how much the management cares when a fun day with tiny fields at a training track is the gold standard in Gauteng..I certainly wont be going racing up here except to watch the race my horses are running and thats it..I also think that the design of Turf is wrong..the boxes are tightly held and underutilised and in fact Turf is in the wrong part of town and the drive to the Vaal is kak!

o Newmarket, Newmarket!!

The only time that Gautengeleng will have a turn out like the Met or July, will be as soon as our universities get involved in the racing maniac parties.
Get busses,Taxi's and go pick them up.
Even the Klein Karoo Kunstefees (KKNK) in Oudshoorn will be nothing if it wasn't for the students.
The Met is the day for the students to get out and enjoy the day.
The july will be nothing if the comrades wasn't run in Durban or Petermaritzburg.
Of course with the pretty student girls at attendance the guys follow.
Get our universities involved.

1. The area is all wrong. People are scared of being hijacked on their way there. Newmarket would probably have been percieved to be safer.
2. Brand conciousness. Unfortunately Gomma Gomma does not have the appeal of J&B (Brandhouse) or Vodacom or the marketing machines that these 2 have behind them. Shoot me down for my comments but this is true. Huge money is not the solution to every problem.
3. Great events take time to mature.
4. Durban is Africas horse racing capital.
5. GC probably run by more efficient, humble people.